Chair for measuring urinary flow rate

ABSTRACT

A chair for measuring a patient&#39;&#39;s urinary flow rate has an opening in the seat on which the patient sits. The opening is elongated in the front to back direction. A funnel is mounted on tracks directly below the opening so that it can be moved forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the opening to suit the particular patient. A tray is situated directly below the seat. The tray is movable from side-to-side and is also adjustable on runners forwardly and rearwardly so that the midplane of the tray can be adjusted to correspond to the position of the funnel. A transverse array of compartments or depressions are formed in the tray to retain containers. By moving the tray sideways, then, the containers can be moved, in turn, past the funnel for the collection of a succession of voided fluid specimens.

United States Patent Mahony 1451 June 20, 1972 1541 CHAIR FOR MEASURING URINARY FLOW RATE 22 Filed: March 10,1971 7 [21] Appl.No.: 122,922

3,383,713 5/1968 Adams ..4/134 3,611,457 10/1971 Wippich ..4/134 3,625,064 12/1971 Hinman, Jr. et a]. ..4/11o Primary Examiner-Frederick L. Matteson Assistant Examiner-Henry K. Artis A!t0meyCesari and McKenna ABSTRACT A chair for measuring a patients urinary flow rate has an opening in the seat on which the patient sits. The opening is elongated in the front to back direction. A funnel is mounted on tracks directly below the opening so that it can be moved forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the opening to suit the particular patient. A tray is situated directly below the seat. The tray is movable from side-to-side and is also adjustable on runners forwardly and rearwardly so that the midplane of the tray can be adjusted to correspond to the position of the funnel. A transverse array of compartments or depressions are formed in the tray to retain containers. By moving the tray sideways, then, the containers can be moved, in turn, past the funnel for the collection of a succession of voided fluid specimens.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing figures MTENTEDJMO 1972 INVENTOR DAVID T. MAHO NY czdmm f am ATTORNEY CHAIR FOR MEASURING URINARY FLOW RATE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a chair for assisting urologists in the collection of voided fluid from patients. It relates more particularly to a chair for facilitating the determination of voiding urinary flow rates.

Up to the present time, there has been no set technique for collecting urine specimens from a patient when determining his urinaryflow rate. The aim of the present invention is to provide a convenient means for enabling a doctor to obtain such specimens. The invention is of particular import to urologists who may have to obtain, segregate, identify and analyze a large number of such specimens in a given day.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chair for facilitating the determination of urinary flow rates which is safe and easy to use.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a chair by which the doctor or his assistant can quickly obtaina number of separate urine specimens from a patient or patients.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chair of this type which is relatively easy and inexpensive to make.

Another object of the invention is to'provide a chair of this type which can be used by patients of most ages and sizes.

Other objects will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter. I

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

Briefly, the unit consists of a chair having an opening in the seat which is somewhat elongated front to back. A funnel is mounted directly below the opening and is arrangedto slide forwardly and rearwardly on rails attached to the underside of the seat. Thus, the funnel can be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly relative to the seat opening to accommodate a particular patient. 7

An elongated tray is spaced directly below the lower end of the funnel. The tray is mounted on runners so that it can slide from side to side relative to the funnel. These runners are, in turn, mounted on tracks so that they, as well as the tray, can be moved backwards andforwards relative to the funnel. Thus, the midplane of the tray can be moved backwardsand forwards to correspond tothe position of the funnel.

The tray is divided into a number of compartments or recesses arranged side-by-side. These recesses are adapted to retain suitable containers for collecting the urine specimens from the patient sitting on the chair. In use, the tray is slid sideways so that successive containers are brought opposite the funnel at the desired times to obtain successive urine specimens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view in elevation of a chair made in accordance with this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a top view thereof with parts cut away.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, the chair has a seat 10 and a back 12 supported by four legs 14. An opening 16 is formed in the tray 18 for retaining a funnel 26. Funnel 26 is made of plastic or any suitable material which can be cleaned easily. Thus by sliding tray 18 on runners 22, the funnel 26 can be moved forwardly or rearwardly relative to opening 16.

A pair of runners 28 similar to runners 22 are positioned at each side of the chair directly below runners 22. The ends of runners 28 are also secured to legs 14. Runners 28 support a long, relatively wide, rectangular channel 32 which can thus be slid on the runners forwardly and rearwardly relative to funnel 26.

A relatively long, generally rectangular tray 34 is arranged for sideways sliding movement in channel 32. Tray 34 has a plurality, herein three, recesses 34a spaced along its length, i.e. along the transverse axis of the chair. Each recess 34a is arranged and adapted to receive and retain a suitable container 36 made of plastic or other comparable material. Thus, tray 34 can be slid sideways relative to funnel 26 so that any one of the containers on the tray can be positioned directly below the funnel.

In use, once the funnel 26 has been adjusted to suit the particular patient, the channel 32 is moved forwardly or rearwardly so that its centerline is directly below the funnel. Then the tray is moved laterally so that containers 36 are brought opposite the funnel at the desired times to collect the separate urine specimens.

The present chair is relatively easy and inexpensive to make out of wood orother comparable material. The funnel 26 and containers 36 are also inexpensive and easy to clean and replace. The chair can accommodate most patients and is not unduly uncomfortable for them to use. Yet, the unit provides a very convenient way to obtain a succession of urine specimens on a controlled basis.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described.

I claim:

I l'. A chair for facilitating the determination of urinary flow rates comprising a seat having an opening therein, a funnel slidably mounted directly below the seat and slidable relative to the opening in the seat and a container-supporting tray positioned underneath the funnel and the seat, the tray being slidable so that any container thereon can be positioned directly below the funnel.

2. The chair defined in claim 1 wherein the funnel is removably positioned in a tray, said tray being slidably mounted underneath the seat so that it can be slid forwardly and rearwardly to selectively position the funnel relative to the opening in the seat.

3. The chair defined in claim 2 wherein the opening in the seat is elongated front to back.

4. The chair defined in claim 1 wherein the container-supporting tray is slidably received for lateral sliding movement in a channel, runners attached to the chair for slidably supporting the channel for front to back movement relative to the opening in the seat so that once the funnel is positioned relative to the seat opening, the channel can be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly to place the centerline of the tray directly below the funnel, whereby the tray can be slid laterally relative to the funnel so that any container on the tray can be positioned directly below the funnel to receive voided fluid.

5. The chairdefined in claim 4 wherein the container-supporting tray has a succession of container-receiving depressions spaced along its length.

6. The chair defined in claim 5 and further including a container in one or more of said depressions.

i I l 

1. A chair for facilitating the determination of urinary flow rates comprising a seat having an opening therein, a funnel slidably mounted directly below the seat and slidable relative to the opening in the seat and a container-supporting tray positioned underneath the funnel and the seat, the tray being slidable so that any container tHereon can be positioned directly below the funnel.
 2. The chair defined in claim 1 wherein the funnel is removably positioned in a tray, said tray being slidably mounted underneath the seat so that it can be slid forwardly and rearwardly to selectively position the funnel relative to the opening in the seat.
 3. The chair defined in claim 2 wherein the opening in the seat is elongated front to back.
 4. The chair defined in claim 1 wherein the container-supporting tray is slidably received for lateral sliding movement in a channel, runners attached to the chair for slidably supporting the channel for front to back movement relative to the opening in the seat so that once the funnel is positioned relative to the seat opening, the channel can be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly to place the centerline of the tray directly below the funnel, whereby the tray can be slid laterally relative to the funnel so that any container on the tray can be positioned directly below the funnel to receive voided fluid.
 5. The chair defined in claim 4 wherein the container-supporting tray has a succession of container-receiving depressions spaced along its length.
 6. The chair defined in claim 5 and further including a container in one or more of said depressions. 